There are a few topics which keep recurring among fans and commentators concerned with the Browns' personnel, its needs and utilization.
Who will the team draft? Will Matt Wilhelm be coming to the Browns? Will Braylon and Kellen be at full strength by camp or is an additional target needed? Can Chaun Thompson play inside? etc.
Much has been written and said about the others, but not much about the last. Therefore, it shall be the focus of this entry.
Last year about this time, I, too, thought Romeo Crennel might test Chaun inside. I wrote as much in speculation. I'd seen the size, the speed, the physique, the long arms, requisite desire, as well as the conspicuous need.
Ben Taylor and Matt Stewart appeared as adequate alternatives outside to assume Chaun's role, sacrificing some quickness for savvy, instinct, familiarity with the role, coverage, among other less tangible qualities.
One significant doubt remained. Does Chaun have the instincts for the post?
Can he diagnose quickly enough? How would he handle mis-direction, filling, hand-to-hand combat, shedding inside, where the traffic is heavy and the confines intense? Can he get off blocks? Outside it is often sufficient to string out a play, turn it inside, simply control the block long enough for assistance to arrive. Realities are different inside.
Thompson remained outside throughout camp and a largely-dismal losing season during which some personnel experimentation seemed advised. It seemed apparent the braintrust similarly doubted the fit inside.
Among the factors possibly influencing that conclusion are Chaun's explosiveness off the edge, absent in all other OLB candidates, and his still-healing (we hope!) wrist. The first of these is self-explanatory, but the second is relevant because one must be able to grab and pull and yank and throw off a blocker as a regular event inside. One must often stuff a blocker and plug the hole, with one's hands a critical part of executing that assignment.
Outside, where one's positioning, speed, quickness, anticipation, elusiveness and body control can assist one's capacity to slip and escape blocking attempts, one can get by with an impaired hand, wrist or arm. This is less true if one's duties involve combating the TE, however, as Carl Banks did so well during his brief tenure here under Belichick.
Unless and until Chaun's wrist is fully available to him, he has no future inside. Even if it should rebound, there remains the question of his football instincts.
Fans should remember it is not necessary to audition an athlete in an actual game to determine whether he has promise or potential at a given position. That is what practices are for. This fundamental truism is lost on too many fans each season, when clamoring for more playing time for a given favorite.
It should be assumed Thompson's utility inside has been fully contemplated by the coaching staff. If the temptation was strong, he was probably tested in the role. He was likely found wanting, for any number of reasons, foreseeable or otherwise.
It could be the staff has given Chaun an off-season of drills and positional assignments/prescriptions upon which to work so as to enhance his viability inside, while they chase his replacement outside, someone able to bring approximate or superior speed and quickness. There has been considerable analysis and discussion regarding draft prospects for the edge-rushing duties. In other words, it could yet be that Chaun Thompson will factor inside in the Crennel-Grantham 3-4.
All things considered, however, it is not likely, except possibly on a situational basis when an interior blitz is desired, whereby the athlete is moving forward without regard to other responsibilities.
The instincts, the innate sense for the linebacker position---whether inside or out---seem to be lacking in Chaun thusfar as a pro. Perhaps film study, the influence/mentoring of McGinest, another season of familiarity with the system and the pro game will enable Thompson to demonstrate the polish and anticipation necessary to impact anywhere on the second level.
At this point, however, such developments would surprise and cannot be relied upon. More likely, Chaun seems destined for situational use. One could be wrong and may even hope to be. But at this time, that would be the assessment.